YOUCA App for Parents of Children With Mental Health Issues: A Pilot Study of Usability and Efficacy

Parents play a key role in supporting their children's mental health and emotional well-being. However, many parents feel uncertain about how to respond when their child is experiencing emotional or mental health difficulties. They may struggle to communicate effectively, lack confidence in their parenting abilities, experience concerns about stigma, or have difficulty identifying appropriate support services. To address these challenges, the project PsyGes developed the Youngsters Upbringing Mental Health Information and Counselling App (YOUCA), a smartphone application designed to provide parents and caregivers with accessible information, practical guidance, and support.

The YOUCA app aims to strengthen parenting skills, increase parents' confidence in supporting their children, and improve awareness of available support services. The app includes tailored daily tips, strategies for communicating with children and maintaining positive parent-child relationships, a searchable glossary of mental health terms, and a directory of support services.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usability and potential efficacy of the YOUCA app. Specifically, the study will examine how parents perceive the app's usability and usefulness and whether using the app for four weeks may improve parenting skills and parental self-efficacy. Parental self-efficacy refers to a parent's confidence in their ability to support and guide their child. The researchers expect that regular use of the app will help parents feel more capable and better equipped to manage challenges related to their children's mental health.

This study is a mixed-methods randomized waitlist-controlled pilot trial. Approximately 25 parents or caregivers of children with mental health difficulties will be recruited, with at least 20 participants expected to complete the study. Participants will be randomly assigned either to receive immediate access to the app or to a waitlist group that will receive access later. This allows researchers to compare outcomes between participants who have used the app and those who have not yet used it.

The study will take place over eight weeks and include three assessment points: before app use begins, after the first study period, and after the second study period. Participants will complete questionnaires measuring parenting skills and parental self-efficacy before and after using the app. The usability of and satisfaction with the app will also be assessed after app use. Additionally, participants are required to maintain a usage diary to document their interactions and experiences with the app during app use.

In addition, at least ten participants will be invited to take part in voluntary interviews about their experiences using the app. These interviews will provide detailed feedback on the app's strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. A focus group with approximately five psychosocial experts will also be conducted to gather professional perspectives on the app's content and usefulness.

Participation involves minimal risk. Some participants may find it emotionally challenging to reflect on their child's mental health difficulties, but no medical or invasive procedures are involved. Participants may withdraw from the study at any time without consequences.

The findings from this pilot study will help researchers improve the YOUCA app and determine whether it shows sufficient promise for evaluation in a larger trial. Ultimately, the study seeks to contribute to the development of accessible digital tools that support parents and promote the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult (psychological) parents (Age > 18 years) of children/adolescents aged 10-17
• AND previously/currently concerned about their child's mental health & therefore seeking information/support
• AND willingness to comply with all study related procedures and provide informed consent
• AND owning a smartphone and willing to use it for installing and testing the YOUCA App within the intervention phase
• AND situated in the City of Vienna or surrounding areas

Exclusion criteria

• Lack of consent capacity in parents or acute crisis of the participants. No external expert assessment is conducted. An acute crisis is defined as screened by PHQ-4 score rated from 9 to 12 (Kroenke et al. 2009).
• Insufficient knowledge of German for questionnaire completion, app use and participation in the interview

Inclusion criteria

for Experts in Focus Group

• Active work in the field of psychosocial and mental health in the last three years
• AND working with children / adolescents between age 10 - 17 in the field of psychosocial and mental health
• AND willing to test the app on a private smartphone
• AND at least one year of work experience in respective fields
• AND situated in the City of Vienna or surrounding areas